Long before Gamera was a friend to all children, he was a haunting, destructive force in his 1965 debut. We take a look at Gamera: The Giant Monster, 1965. Please consider supporting Dark Corners on Patreon for bonus videos, uncensored reviews, and ad-free early access: www.patreon.com/darkcorners Or Join YouTube membership for bonus videos and early access. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmxXHmHyfFQYVVzqexOk-lQ/join WE HAVE MERCH! T-Shirts: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-corners?ref_id=26415 Quizbook: https://amzn.to/3ACue7a Robin’s Novels: https://amzn.to/3Wgh2v7 Buy Gamera: https://amzn.to/42u6VIp SOCIALS Facebook: http://on.fb.me/RvhRdc Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarkCorners3 @DarkCorners3 Mastodon: https://mastodonapp.uk/web/@darkcorners3 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/darkcorners3.bsky.social Summary: A nuclear explosion in the far north unleashes Gamera, the legendary flying turtle, from his sleep under the ice. In his search for energy, Gamera wreaks havoc over the entire world, and it’s up to the scientists, assisted by a young boy with a strange sympathetic link to the monster, to put a stop to Gamera’s rampage. This video contains affiliate links. If you click on one of them, I’ll receive a commission. A special thanks to our Dark Cultist Patreon supporters. THE SHADOWS: Farron Sutton, Vincent Foley, Lescarberry, Aaron Kesller, Wes Allen, Thon Lorenz, David Hughes, Nancy Peponis, Lexander, Ernie Mehaffey, Allan Liska, Michael John Simmons, Laura Hertzman, Bugaboo, Nayla + Steve Caruso, John L., Kristin Hitron, Doug Sparks, Matthew Wolforth, Maurice Terenzio, Hal Remorse, TheZodMaker, Paul Keating, Johnny Compton, Adi Wood, Andreas Buckley, Todd Y., Rick Walz, Jihoon Suk, Kristiyan Butev, Dragonfyree, Bob Hedges, EP Haury, Spooky Robot, Mark Osborn, Travis Stephenson, Ossie Nelson, Mark Welsh, Kali, Michael Clark, Lightning Round, Ian Lewis, Jonathan Harrison, Darren Le Noble, Melanie Atherton Allen, Gappasaurus, james Steadman, Joe Porter, Scott Nesmith, Normand Richardson, Richard Sadler, scoopmoose, John Hepp, Michael Schmidt, Chantelle Corey, Jim Rockford, Joe Niedbala, Joseph Hines, Nils Muninsheim, Stephen Crane, Anthony Strocks, Dave Church, Sikander, Jasmine Zantara, goddessoftransitory, Tony Belmonte, Rachemus, Chris Weakley, steve scibelli, Raven House Mystery, Michael and Heather Bailes, Colleen Crouch, Dan D Doty, ChaosOverlordZ, Joseph Dougherty, Chris Hewson, Written and presented by Robin Bailes @robinbailes Directed and Edited by Graham Trelfer Lockdown Review S2E025 #HorrorMovieReview #DarkCornersReview #StreamingReview
29 Comments
I'm researching prewar Japan, and I wonder if there's something in these films about the prominent role of scientists and diverging from the military? Because prewar science like everything else was subservient to the military, rigidly enforced via the kempeitai.
I have always loved Gamera. ❤️🐢
Gamera Versus Viras was the first I saw, quite by accident on telly once weekend afternoon, back in the 80s. Even then I could tell it was old and daggy, but there was something charming to it all, and the reveal of the full-sized Viras is suitably creepy.
As others have mentioned here, the 1990s Gamera reboot trilogy directed by Shusuke Kaneko is terrific. Granted that I’m not a big kaiju fan, those are my favorites next to the original Godzilla. Anyone who appreciates good sci fi/action/horror should enjoy them.
The 1990s Gamera trilogy is also worth checking out HOWEVER I also want to throw some love towards Gamera the Brave (2006) which I believe is a very well-made and earnest family adventure drama with some welcomed giant monster elements in its second half.
Gamera had it's U.S. premier in New Orleans! I really think that's something we should take pride in. Maybe a Krewe of Gamera parade every December to commemorate the anniversary?
I feel it necessary to point out that Gamera is a dirty cheat. He totally cheated in the climactic fight in ‘Gamera vs Zigra’. Gamera should have been disqualified and Zigra awarded the Earth as the true victor. Then we would have all bowed down and worshipped our new alien overlord Zigra and the planet would have been saved and peace and prosperity would have followed for everyone and all children everywhere. Cheating old Gamera, the cheat.
Over the years I've acquired them all, both the original U.S. dubs and the Sandy Frank re-dubs as well as the Japanese Language originals. Please don't judge me.
Ive always loved the Gamera series of films, even moreso the ones released in the 90s.
I first saw Gamera on a series of VHS tapes hosted by Al Lewis from the Munsters
🎶GAMERA!!!🎶
🎶GAMERA!!!🎶
🎶Gamera is really neat, Gamera is really sweet🎶
🎶We all love GAMERA❤🎶
After this they realized that they could target the children's market so they become a tonal mish mash of graphic violence and goofy moments. It's okay though, Gamera bleeds blue so it didn't get censored. Everyone will try to recommend the 90s films because they think the ones before it are too silly but I think they lost the charm of the old ones. Once the series took itself seriously again, there was nothing to separate it from Godzilla at the time. Probably why the studio stopped using the IP for decades.
Its GODZILLA. WITHOUT GODZILLA.
Now you should watch the first sequel "Gamera vs Barugon". It's much darker in tone & despite Gamera being kid-friendly, there are no kids as part of the plot this time around. This is a Gamera film aimed more for adults…I think.
I've the 1st Gamera only once on regular TV long time ago. Glad the ending was given as not to spoil for people who haven't seen the movie. I think subsequent Gamera movies were in color and Gamera in those movies played the hero against other monsters (though I haven't seen any of the other Gamera movies).
Gamera is really neat. He is made of turtle meat.
I have to recommend the 1990s era 'Heisei Trilogy.' It's surprisingly clever, well-crafted, and inventive. And it has a refreshing skepticism towards nationalism.
silly subtitles, it's not spelled Gameamra, nor Gameamarat.
It's the first movie I've seen in my life. I was 4yo 😀
A small cinema in communist Poland in 1981.
The Heisei Gamera trilogy stands up to and/or surpasses many of the Godzilla films (though not the original, Shin, or Minus One). Totally recommended. The rest of the Showa era Gamera stuff is just bizarre, brainless fun.
Gamera is definitely my favourite monster. Sorry, Godz.
"Now all we have to do is lure him into this massive tureen of boiling water."
In Gamera vs Guiron, Gamera rocked the high bar and stuck the landing in an amazing show of monster gymnastics. Unfortunately, the Russian judge only gave him a 6.5 and he lost the competition.
That time that a turtle was a bigger threat than Godzilla
The window ninja predicts the rest of the series reviews will be done by 2054
I’m a simple man..I see a Dark Corners Review vid I click like & then watch the video
I believe the first film was the last of the kaiju films made in black & white. Gamera was a favorite.
Unlike Godzilla, who only turned into the friend of children near the end of his Showa career, Gamera got his kiddie matinee typecasting right from the beginning, with the odd exception of Barugon.
Of the series, “Gamera vs. Guiron” has some of the more series- iconic examples of the fresh, undiscerning younger-audience goofiness for those not acquainted with Daiei’s Kaiju-verse.
still prefer the US cut
GAMMERA!! DU DU DU DU! GAMMERA!! DU DU DU DU!!
singing about the monster that's coming for them in one last disco dance
then it plays again on the ending when they delete Gamera from Earth.